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Period: Jan 30, 1200 to
American Revolution
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Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Made to challenge the authority of the king and for him to protect his people. they felt as if the king was overusing his power and it needed to stop. -
Petition of Right
Was sent to Charles I as a statement of civil liberties. Refusal by Parliament to finance the king’s unpopular foreign policy had caused his government to exact forced loans and to quarter troops in subjects’ houses as an economy measure. -
English Bill of Rights
It guaranteed certain rights of the citizens of England from the power of the crown. It also gave the legislative body of Parliament absolute sovereignty and makes it supreme over all other government institutions. -
Boston Massacre
It was an incident that came about due to anger against the British troops that were sent to Boston to enforce the Townshend Act. The troops were harassed by irresponsible gangs to try to stop them. -
Boston Tea Party
3 ships were bombarded at the Boston Harbor by colonists who were disguised as Indians and emptied 342 chests of tea into the Harbor because of the crazy increase of tax on it. -
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress brought together representatives from each of the colonies, except Georgia, to discuss their response to the British "Intolerable Acts." The purpose of the First Continental Congress was not to seek independence from Britain. -
Second Continetal Congress
They originally formed to help protect citizens but they also printed their own money, sent ambassadors to foreign countries, got loans and started to raise an army. -
Declaration of Independence
The declaration opens with a preamble describing the document's necessity in explaining why the colonies have overthrown their ruler and chosen to take their place as a separate nation in the world. It then says that all men are created equal and that everyone has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. -
Albany Plan of Union
The purpose was to form a stronger union under a single government and go in the same direction. It was necessary to defend themselves while the French and Indian War was taking place. -
Articles of Confederation
The representatives of the 13 states decided to create the United States of America and they had simple rules that had to be followed. They are to defend each other and have good relationships. They are to live as family and live in peace. -
Shay's Rebellion
It illustrated two things: The government was powerless to raise money to pay back the debt or pay back the soldiers because each law had to be approved by every single state and that they needed a stronger federal government. -
Virginia Plan
The plan traced the broad outlines of what would become the U.S. It describes two houses: one with members elected by the people for three-year terms and the other had older leaders who were elected by the state legislatures for seven-year terms. -
Philadelphia Convention
Came to discuss problems with the current government document, the Articles of Confederation. The result was a new form of government, the Constitution. -
New Jersey Plan
The New Jersey Plan detailed a legislature of only one house and featured equal representation in which each state had the same number of representatives. The goal was for smaller states to have the same level of power in the legislature as the large states.
